Research Areas

The research is focused on advanced materials, nanomaterials, nanofillers and composite/nanocomposite materials. The research of these materials begins with their design using molecular simulations and continues with their preparation/synthesis, characterization, testing of their properties and possible applications, and concludes in the study of the effects of the nanomaterials on the environment. The studied materials include carbon nanomaterials, clay minerals, metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, polymers and biologically active substances. Applications of the developed products include materials with antimicrobial effects, sorbents, catalysts and photocatalysts, multifunctional polymeric materials and composite materials, conductive polymers, materials for the accumulation and storage of energy, etc.

• Molecular modelling and design of materials and nanomaterials
• Preparation and synthesis of advanced materials and nanomaterials
• Characterization of advanced materials, nanomaterials and composite materials
• Testing and applications of advanced materials, nanomaterials and composite materials
• Impact of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies on the environment

At present, hydrogen is an environmentally-friendly energy medium, with a high potential for application. During its energy reclamation, no greenhouse gases or other undesirable compounds are formed. At the same time, it can serve as a means of storing energy, thanks to which it can be used to stabilize energy networks with renewable sources. Hydrogen is currently mainly produced by the steam reforming of natural gas, which results in large amounts of CO2 emissions. Another possibility is the production of hydrogen from solid alternative fuels by plasma gasification with subsequent separation from the resulting synthesis gas.

We focus on innovative technological processes in the areas of:

• Plasma gasification technology
• Catalytic pyrolysis of waste
• Fuel cell issues
• Processing of waste or its eventual transformation into products useable for energy

The aim of the research topic is research in the field of energy flow management in the energy platform of a complex system respecting the principles of a circular economy at the level of distribution grid for powering energy platforms of municipalities, cities or micro-regions.

A complete solution will consist of two main directions in the research and development of management methods:

• Technologies for the conversion of alternative fuels, waste and by-products into usable chemicals and useful forms of energy, their storage and efficient use with the support of digital twin.
• Electricity distribution networks within energy platforms of municipalities, cities or micro-regions. The use of modern technologies for energy storage in various forms is a given.

The latest trends will be used in areas such as high-performance computing, advanced data analysis, artificial intelligence and their use for the efficient self-organization of smart energy networks, the adaptive and floating adjustment of individual elements according to current needs. A given is the use of distributed calculations, mathematical modeling and optimization and digital twin technology of selected parts to speed up and increase the efficiency and reliability of the developed solutions. Our team consists of experts in the field of power engineering, measurement and control technology, computer science and mathematics.

Research in the field of environmental-friendly technologies is focuses on two main areas:

• Improvement of existing manufacturing processes to reduce the production of pollutants. In cooperation with industrial partners, we are dealing with the optimization of technologies, such as replacement of toxic extractants or new design of rectification columns.
• Increase the efficiency and development of new methods for reducing the emissions of pollutants which are already formed. There are many technologies for reducing the emissions of gaseous pollutants that have been commertially used for decades. We are dealing with increasing their efficiency or developing completely new methods with the aim of fulfilling the strict emission limits. In the field of wastewater treatment, we focus on substances that are persistent in our environment (organic pollutants, xenobiotics). The important of our research is the development of new methods for the detection of pollutants in both, air and water.